This is part of the Multiverse Collection and follows the main characters Lorcan and Faye as they interact after Lorcan goes after his last big score. Lorcan does spy work and even though he comes from a wealthy background, he gets his kicks and makes a living by taking jobs and using his skills to hack or steal items, from often difficult locations. He wants to hang up his spurs after this last job, using the payoff to put a ring on the finger of the love of his life, Orla. He has a fake persona and company background set up, but doesn’t know where the target is located and must just follow the instructions given at the last minute. It turns out his target is on a yacht, tied up but is soon untied to float along the water. Not quite the quick in and out Lorcan was hoping for!
His job goes wrong when others are after the same item than he has been sent for and an explosion sends him to the bottom of the sea. He is saved by a mermaid called Faye, who is hiding her true identity from those around her. The item they are all after is called the Key of Pisces and it will allow Faye and her family to regain their former position. The key was made by a being called the Keymaster and they can be used to unlock sources of energy and power, so are well sought after! Lorcan has ended up in a strange world deep under the sea and not accessible by him as a human. Now he is surrounded by people that can’t understand him and can sic their ‘pet creatures’ on him at any moment. If they think he knows the location of the key, then his life will end very abruptly!
Another great character is Kai, Faye’s personal guardian and trained warrior, who stands at over seven foot tall. His position means his love for Kaye is not reciprocated, she says he is her equal, but ignores the love he feels for her! One of Faye’s household, Millie, is a danger to both Lorcan and Faye, as she is also working undercover, to gain power and information for her family. A prophecy given to Faye and her father by a Shaman, when he took her to the human realm as a baby, stated Faye would fall in love with a Silver Blood Warrior and somehow, she reckons that it must be Lorcan and that he will be the key to her and her family’s future. What she will learn is that love is going to be very important to her quest for the key, as did the Keymaster when he created it! Lorcan doesn’t want to survive if he is not going to be able to return to his love Orla, but Faye’s adherence to the Shaman’s words, leave her wanting Lorcan to love her instead.
She will soon learn that you can’t change who you love, no matter what else is at stake. Love is a very important part of the tale and the only way for all the parts of the key to connect together as they should. An intriguing story, with a glimpse of life under the sea and also the beginnings of the Multiverse. A journey through hell for those who do not belong and creatures that are treated as slaves and used for nefarious means. An easy read and I look forward to reading some more of this collection. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.